Portable electric heating ice scraper

ABSTRACT

A portable electric heating ice scraper with an elongated housing, configured to remove ice from a windshield. The housing includes: a front housing portion including a front housing end and a scraper disposed at the front housing end, and a rear housing portion including a handle and a rear housing end. An electric-powered fan that generates an airflow in a direction of the scraper and at least one electric-powered heating element configured to heat the airflow are disposed in the housing. The front housing portion and the rear housing portion approximately extend on a plane in a longitudinal direction of the housing or the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 35° relative to the rear housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable electric heating ice scraper.

Related Art

As is well-known, an ice scraper is used to remove ice such as ice formed on a vehicle windshield in winter. According to the thickness of a formed ice layer, it is tired, time-consuming and difficult to remove the ice layer by using only a mechanical ice scraper. Therefore, for example, DE 10052281 C2, DE 202006000830 U1 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,679 A also discloses a known ice scraper that heats and melts ice by using an electric heating element mounted on a scraper blade. In addition, in DE 2927887 A1, DE 4300500 A1, GB 2295006 A, GB 2328734 A, and US 2006/0282980 A1, a device for melting ice by using a hot air apparatus is also described. The device herein generally refers to a relatively cumbersome hot air gun. It herein refers generally to a relatively cumbersome hot air gun. A device described in US2006/0282980 A1 uses a rotary blade to remove ice from a windshield, and includes a fan to blow cold air to remove melting ice.

SUMMARY

A task of the present invention is to provide an easily-operated and easily-used electric heating ice scraper. By means of the electric heating ice scraper, ice on a windshield can be effectively and easily removed.

This task is resolved by using a portable electric heating ice scraper with an elongated housing. The housing includes: a front housing portion including a front housing end and a scraper blade disposed at the front housing end, and a rear housing portion including a handle and a rear housing end. An electric-powered fan that generates an airflow in a direction of the scraper blade and at least one electric-powered heating element configured to heat the airflow are disposed in the housing. The front housing portion and the rear housing portion approximately extend on a plane in a longitudinal direction of the housing or the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 35° relative to the rear housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

According to the present invention, the ice scraper includes a scraper blade located in the front portion and a handle located in the rear portion that are included in a known mechanical ice scraper of a general type. The ice scraper includes a housing made for accommodating essential electronic components including a fan. Although the electronic components are accommodated, the housing of the ice scraper according to the present invention is mainly constructed to be relatively smooth and does not include a pistol grip, so that the ice scraper may be used in an operation mode of the known mechanical ice scraper. The rear housing portion including the handle and the front housing portion including the scraper blade are approximately located on a plane or the front housing portion relatively slightly leans towards a bottom housing portion or the scraper blade relative to the rear housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing. Compared with, for example, an ice scraper with a pistol grip, pressure needed when necessary can be generated more easily by using this ice scraper. In addition, a more compact design is produced, so that the apparatus can be placed more easily. The electric-powered fan disposed in the housing generates an airflow, and the airflow is heated by using the at least one electric-powered heating element and is blew towards the direction of the scraper blade. Ice, for example, on the windshield, can be heated and at least be melted in this way. Therefore, the ice can be easily removed from the windshield by using the ice scraper.

The term “smoothly” about the housing refers to that the housing has a relatively small height relative to the length of the housing.

The term “electric heating ice scraper” refers to an ice scraper, where heat generated by the ice scraper can at least support windshield ice removal.

The expression of “a handle is included in a rear housing portion” refers to that at least at a partial area of the rear housing portion is constructed in this manner, so that it is quite easy for people to grip the ice scraper. The expression includes that the rear housing portion is constructed as a handle. Therefore, the rear housing portion forms a handle portion of the ice scraper.

The expression “the front housing portion and the rear housing portion approximately extend on a plane in a longitudinal direction of the housing or the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 35° relative to the rear housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing” refers to that the front housing portion and the rear housing portion of the ice scraper according to the present invention are not curved or are only slightly curved to each other, and the rear housing portion is particularly not provided with a pistol grip. The word “curved” herein does not refer to that there should be a curved edge, or the like. To be more precise, the front housing portion may have a corresponding curvature. Curving of the front housing portion causes the scraper blade to be disposed below a plane of the rear housing portion. Therefore, it is not necessary for the ice scraper to be heavily curved relative to a plane of the windshield. To be more precise, the ice scraper may be approximately parallel to the windshield by using the handle of the ice scraper.

In an preferred implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention, the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 30° relative to the rear housing portion, the angle is preferably not greater than 25° or 20°, and is particularly preferably not greater than 15°.

In another preferred implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention, the front housing portion extends to the scraper blade in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the housing. For example, the front housing portion may extend in a conical shape in the direction of the scraper blade to provide a wide scraper blade as much as possible and remove a wide ice stripe from the windshield as much as possible during operation.

The housing of the ice scraper according to the present invention is constructed to be relatively smoothly. Particularly preferably, a ratio of the total length of the housing to the height of the housing at the rear housing portion should be in a range of ≥5, preferably ≥6, ≥7, ≥8 or ≥9. The ratio may be, for example, approximately 10, 11 or 12. In a longer outline design, the ratio may further be greater. For example, the length of housing body of the ice scraper according to the present invention may be approximately 240 millimeters when the height of the housing at the rear housing portion is in a range of approximately 22 millimeters. The housing may be made of, for example, thermoset plastic, or may be made of another material or a material mixture, for example, a metal or a composite fiber material. The housing may include upper and lower housing components, and the two housing components may be connected to each other by using, for example, a clip, a screw, or the like. The two housing components may be constructed as a whole. The housing may include more than two components. Particularly, when there is a non-rechargeable battery, a battery housing cover may be disposed in the housing.

The scraper blade of the ice scraper according to the present invention first includes multiple ventilation ducts configured to discharge airflows. The ventilation duct may be an opening or a slot in the scraper blade or within an area of the scraper blade. An airflow generated by the fan and heated by using the at least one heating element is discharged from the housing through the opening or slot, and is passed onto, for example, a windshield. The scraper blade may be made of, for example, thermoset plastic, or may be made of another material or a material mixture.

The fan preferably refers to a centrifugal fan, and the fan is preferably horizontally disposed in the direction of the scraper blade with an air outlet connector.

The at least one heating element is disposed between the fan and the scraper blade, so that the airflow is heated all the way and is passed to the scraper blade. The at least one heating element preferably refers to a “positive temperature coefficient”-heating element (PTC heating element). Preferably, multiple PTC heating elements are disposed. The heating element and a position of the heating element should be selected to generate a sufficient temperature, for example, 60° C. to 70° C., on the scraper blade. The heating elements may generate a temperature, for example, 195° C. herein. Certainly, the heating elements may generate a relatively low or relatively high temperature according to a use objective.

In a particularly preferably implementation of the present invention, the fan and the at least one heating element are preferably electrically connected to at least one battery disposed in the housing, so that the fan and the at least one heating element are driven by power saved in the battery. The term “battery” herein includes a non-rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery (storage battery). In addition to the fan and the at least one heating element, other electronic components, such as a switch, an electronic control apparatus and an indicator light, accommodated in the housing are connected to the battery.

Alternatively or if necessary, the fan and the at least one heating element and the cable may be electrically connected to at least one battery. The cable may be connected to a vehicle power port, for example, a 12 V power port, by using a plug. In this implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention, the ice scraper preferably has a cable having an appropriate length, so that the ice scraper is directly connected to, for example, a vehicle power port, and is driven. If necessary, a separate setting is permitted, so that the rechargeable battery can be repeatedly charged by using the power port by using the cable.

In a preferably implementation, an electronic control apparatus configured to electronically control the fan and/or the at least one heating element is disposed in the housing of the ice scraper according to the present invention. The electronic control apparatus may control, for example, a heating power of the at least one heating element and a fan relying on the at least one heating element. The electronic control apparatus may be set in such a way that when the at least one heating element reaches a pre-selected temperature, for example, 150° C., the fan is powered on.

To guide an airflow onto the scraper blade, an appropriate guide apparatus is disposed in the housing. The guide apparatus herein may be, for example, one or multiple plastic profiles or metal profiles. The guide apparatus first extends from the air outlet connector of the fan towards the direction of the scraper blade, so that the guide apparatus receives an airflow and limits the airflow in space.

For example, a plastic profile or a metal profile extending in a conical shape to the scraper blade may be disposed in the front housing portion by using a side wall and if necessary, by using another baffle. The plastic profile or the metal profile preferably has a support structure used to support the at least one heating element. A material of the guide apparatus is selected depending on a temperature generated by using the heating element and an airflow temperature consequently generated. The material herein first needs to be sufficiently heat-resistant. When the material is a good heat conduction material such as a metal, it is beneficial to dispose an insulation layer around the guide apparatus, to avoid performing unnecessary heating on an outer surface of the ice scraper.

To prevent water generated by ice melting from penetrating to an internal housing portion of the ice scraper according to the present invention, a block that prevents the scraper blade from being penetrated by water is disposed between the at least one heating element and the scraper blade in the housing. The block may be a plastic block extending through a cross section of the front housing portion. The plastic block should be set in such a manner that, for example, the height of the plastic block is set to make the cross section of the housing just filled in this area, so that when the ice scraper is operated in a normal expected amount of water, the water does not penetrate to the internal housing portion any more, and a hot airflow flows to the scraper blade as always.

Preferably, an indication apparatus is disposed in the ice scraper according to the present invention. The indication apparatus indicates whether the at least one heating element reaches a sufficient temperature. The indication apparatus may be, for example, an LED indicator light that is disposed in a top housing portion. The LED indicator is on or off when a temperature is sufficient. The indication apparatus further preferably includes an indicator. The indicator indicates whether the ice scraper is open or whether there is a sufficient voltage supply. Colors of the indicator light herein may be set in such a way that the indicator light preferably emits lights of different colors when the indicator light indicates that the heating element generates a sufficient temperature. Different color effects may be generated by using, for example, transparent covers of the indicator light of different colors. The indication apparatus may further, for example, indicate an operation state of the fan, so that when necessary, whether the fan is operating is learned from the outside.

In a preferred implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention, the scraper blade is detachably connected to the front housing portion. Therefore, in this implementation, the scraper blade may be removed. In addition, for example, when the scraper blade is worn, the scraper blade may be replaced with another scraper blade. Certainly, the following manner also works. For example, scraper blades made of different materials are mounted on the ice scraper, or scraper blades are mounted on the ice scraper by using different mounting methods.

The ice scraper may be preferably operated in an appropriate manner, for example, by using a switch attached on a side surface of the housing. To charge a rechargeable battery, a corresponding port may be disposed. Certainly, it is possible to dispose an illuminating apparatus in the housing, to light a whole working area when necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following describes the present invention in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments only for the purpose of illustration.

FIG. 1 is an oblique top view of an implementation of an ice scraper according to the present invention, where A is a schematic diagram without a top housing portion, and B is a schematic diagram with a top housing portion;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view (A), a side sectional view (B) and a bottom view (C) of the implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view (as shown in FIG. 3B) of the implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another implementation of an ice scraper according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an oblique top view that shows a preferred implementation of an ice scraper according to the present invention with or without a top housing portion 17 (also as shown in FIG. 2). The ice scraper includes, for example, a housing 2 that is made of thermoset plastic and includes a front housing end 5, a rear housing end 6, a bottom housing portion 18 and a top housing portion 17. The housing 2 includes a front housing portion 3 including a scraper blade 7, and a rear housing portion 4 constructed as a handle 8. The front housing portion 3 extends in a conical shape to the scraper blade 7. A fan 9 is provided at the bottom housing portion 18, and fan herein is constructed as a centrifugal fan and is horizontally mounted to make a structure as flat as possible. The bottom housing portion 18 is further provided with a guide apparatus 14 that extends in a conical shape from an air outlet connector of the fan 9 in a direction of the scraper blade 7. The guide apparatus 14 is configured to guide an airflow generated by the fan 9 towards the direction of the scraper blade 7. A support 20 of a heating element 10 is disposed in the guide apparatus 14 constructed as a profile, and the heating element is disposed between the fan 9 and the scraper blade 7. The support 20 leans at an angle of, for example, 45° to extend a surface of the support, and the heating element 10 constructed as a PTC heating element on the support is disposed at a corresponding angle. During operation, the airflow that is generated by the fan 9 and that is guided by the guide apparatus 14 flows onto the scraper blade 7 by using the inclined PTC heating element. The PTC heating element 10 heats the airflow that passes through the PTC heating element, so that the warm or hot airflow flows onto the scraper blade 7. An ice scraper 1 in the implementation shown herein is powered by a battery and has a rechargeable battery 12 in the rear housing portion 4. The ice scraper 1 may be connected to a charging cable by using a charge socket 21 and may be recharged by using a vehicle power port by using the cable battery 12. The ice scraper 1 may be powered on and run by directly using the power port by using the cable. An electronic control apparatus 13 controls the fan 9 and/or the heating elements 10. The electronic control apparatus 13 should be set in such as way that after the heating elements 10 reaches a sufficient temperature, for example, 195° C., an airflow is generated when the fan is on. Therefore, a temperature sensor 33 is connected to the electronic control apparatus 13. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of the heating element 10 and transmits a measurement result to the electronic control apparatus 13. The ice scraper 1 includes a switch 22 that has a safety lock 23 and that can be manually switched on by using an manipulation member 29 located on a side surface of the housing. An indication apparatus 16 is disposed at the top housing portion 17. In this implementation (not shown in the figure of this implementation), the indication apparatus includes two indicator lights 31 and 32 covered by transparent covers 24 and 25. The red indicator light 31 (under the cover 24) indicates, for example, whether the ice scrape is powered on or whether a voltage supply is sufficient. The green indicator light 32 (under the cover 25) indicates, for example, whether the heating elements 10 reaches a sufficiently high temperature and whether the ice scraper 1 is ready.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention in FIG. 1, thereby omitting detailed descriptions again of this point. For meanings of numerals, refer to FIG. 1. It can be learned from FIG. 2 that the indication apparatus 16 constructed as a profile is, if necessary, covered by an appropriate cover 27 construct as a profile, an airflow flows in a separately sealed channel. To support and supply power to the PTC heating element 10 and if necessary, for a data cable and/or controlling the heating element, a frame 30 including frame portions 26 and 28 is disposed.

FIG. 3 is a top view (A), a side sectional view (B) and a bottom view (C) of the implementation of the ice scraper according to the present invention in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. For meanings of numerals herein, also refer to FIG. 1. The sectional view (B) is enlarged again in FIG. 4, and reappears by rotating 90° in a clockwise direction. In this implementation of the ice scraper 1, the total length of the ice scraper 1 is 240.4 millimeters, the width a in a range of the front housing end 5 including the scraper blade 7 is 128.1 millimeters, the width c at the rear housing end 6 is 62.1 millimeters, the height e at the rear housing end 6 is 26.8 millimeters, and the height d measured between highest points of the top housing portion 17 in a range between the indication apparatus 16 and a lower side of the scraper blade 7 is 39.3 millimeters. FIG. 3B (also as shown in FIG. 4) is a side sectional view showing that in the implementation shown herein, the bottom housing portion 18 is arch-shaped in the direction of the scraper blade. In addition, a cross sectional view further shows that the front housing portion 3 is curved or is bent relative to the rear housing portion 4 to the bottom housing portion 18 or in the direction of the scraper blade 7, and an angle α herein is probably 15° (FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an implementation of a cable operation of an ice scraper according to the present invention. Same numerals in FIG. 5 and in the foregoing figures indicate same device functions, thereby emitting new explanations regarding components in the foregoing descriptions of the implementation of supplying power by the battery of the ice scraper 1 according to the present invention. To replace the battery 12 with a power source, a socket 34 is disposed in the rear housing portion 4 for a connector 35, the socket is connected to a plug 37 by using a cable 36, and the plug may be connected to a vehicle power port. The vehicle power port herein refers to a 12 V power port. The figure of this implementation further shows the indicator lights 31 and 32 of the indication apparatus 16. 

1. A portable electric heating ice scraper with an elongated housing, configured to remove ice from a windshield, wherein the housing comprises: a front housing portion comprising a front housing end and a scraper blade disposed at the front housing end, and a rear housing portion comprising a handle and a rear housing end; an electric-powered fan that generates an airflow in a direction of the scraper blade and at least one electric-powered heating element configured to heat the air flow are disposed in the housing; and the front housing portion and the rear housing portion approximately extend on a plane in a longitudinal direction of the housing or the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 35° relative to the rear housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing.
 2. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the front housing portion is curved at an angle not greater than 30° relative to the rear housing portion.
 3. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the front housing portion extends to the scraper blade in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the housing.
 4. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the total length of the housing to the height of the housing at the rear housing portion need to be in a range of ≥5.
 5. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the scraper blade comprises multiple ventilation ducts configured to discharge the airflow.
 6. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the fan is a centrifugal fan.
 7. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is a PTC heating element.
 8. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the fan and the at least one heating element are electrically connected to at least one battery disposed in the housing.
 9. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the fan and the at least one heating element are electrically connected to a cable, and the cable can be connected to a vehicle power port by using a plug.
 10. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein an electronic control apparatus configured to electronically control the fan and/or the at least one heating element is disposed in the housing.
 11. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein a guide apparatus is disposed in the housing for guiding the airflow onto the scraper blade.
 12. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein a block that prevents the scraper blade from being penetrated by water is disposed between the at least one heating element and the scraper blade in the housing.
 13. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein an indication apparatus is disposed at a top housing portion, and the indication apparatus indicates a sufficient temperature of the at least one heating element.
 14. The portable electric heating ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the scraper blade is detachably connected to the front housing. 